^9 (A)You went to the king with ointment,
And increased your perfumes;
You sent your ^(B)messengers far off,
And even descended to Sheol.

⁹ For they have gone up to Assyria,
Like ^(A)a wild donkey alone by itself;
Ephraim ^(B)has hired lovers.

12 “Ephraim ^(A)feeds on the wind,
And pursues the east wind;
He daily increases lies and ^[a]desolation.
^(B)Also they make a ^[b]covenant with the Assyrians,
And ^(C)oil is carried to Egypt.